Video Projection System Mounting Panel

ABSTRACT

A mounting panel for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure or standard grid ceiling includes a mounting panel attachable to a projection device and to a number of accessories. The mounting panel is attachable to a plurality of speakers, an amplifier, and a power rough in, creating one ceiling installed video projection device. The mounting panel for attaching a projection device reduces installation work in a standard grid ceiling and provides a pleasant appearance for the projector and accessories.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/146,397, entitled “Video Projection System Mounting Panel”, filed on 22 Jan. 2009. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to video projection mounting systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to video projection system mounts combining speakers, projection mounts, and other accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Similar mounting systems known in the prior art require multiple different items in the ceiling to be mounted. The shortcoming of these systems is that they are labor intensive to install and require a customized list of parts for each installation. What is needed is a mounting panel that provides points where a plurality of accessories can be operably attached to a single mounting panel, making the process more efficient for use in a standard grid ceiling.

For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,655, a device for mounting a video/data projector from a ceiling or wall is disclosed in which struts are used to form channels for supporting the projector and to conceal cabling. The channels, however, result in a rather bulky device that may be difficult to harmonize with the aesthetic environment of a presentation room. Other prior devices such as the low-profile LCD projector mount disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,068, offer a relatively more compact mount arrangement, but still offer only a limited range of projector mounting positions and have no accommodations for the mounting of additional accessories in a standard grid ceiling.

A need still exists in the industry for a projector mount combining the features of relatively quick and easy precision projector positioning and accessory mounting in a compact size. Thus, it would be desirable to overcome these and other shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a mounting panel for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure includes a panel attachable to the projection device and a panel attachable to a number of accessories. The mounting panel is attachable to a plurality of speakers, an amplifier, and a power rough in creating one ceiling installed video projection device. The mounting panel for attaching a projection device reduces installation work in a standard grid ceiling and provides a pleasant appearance for the projector and accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the components of the mounting panel of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the mounting panel of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the mounting panel of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting panel of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of an alternative mounting panel of the present invention with a different flat bottom outlet plate; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lid of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following are detailed descriptions of the invention of exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention.

Now referring to FIG. 1 an exploded view of the components of the mounting panel 100 of the present invention is shown. The mounting panel 100 is comprised of four pie shaped speaker plates 101, 102, 103, and 104, which are combined to form the structure of the mounting panel 100. The four pie shaped speaker plates 101, 102, 103, and 104 are secured together at their inside seams 120, 121, 122, 123, and 124 by welding or any other bonding process readily know in the industry. The speaker plates 101, 102, 103, and 104, when combined form a tapered opening where accessories can be mounted with a flat bottom outlet plate 105. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the four pie shaped speaker plates 101, 102, 103, and 104 also include an opening 106, 107, 108, and 109 for speaker mounting and a top flange 110, 111, 112, and 113 for mounting to a standard 15/16 inch grid ceiling system. The panel 100 may also include bracing brackets 114 in the corners for additional strength.

Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when assembled, the mounting panel 100 has a flange 115 across its top portion for mounting to an existing standard grid ceiling or other structure. Each tapered interior side 116, 117, 118, and 119 of the mounting panel 100 is comprised of a speaker opening 106, 107, 108, and 109. In FIG. 2, it is readily seen that the tapered interior sides 116, 117, 118, and 119 of the four pie shaped speaker plates 101, 102, 103, and 104 create an interior space for mounting speakers and other accessories as well as concealing the speakers and other accessories within the interior space of the mount 100.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the low profile design of the mounting panel 100 of the present invention. Although it would be obvious to make the mounting panel of the present invention with various tapers and in various sizes to accommodate various projector sizes and accessories, the present invention provides a simple, cost effective solution to mounting a projector and accessories within one mounting device and in one central location, while being able to equally service a large or small room.

Now referring to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein a flat bottom outlet plate 125 consists of a single opening 126 where a coupler may be attached to the interior surface of the flat bottom outlet plate 125 for extending a pipe for mounting an accessory like a projector.

Now referring to FIG. 6, a lid 127 is provided for securing to the top flange 115 to completely enclose the interior space. The lid 127 may also be provided with an opening 128 for the insertion of cabling into the interior space while completely enclosing the interior components and accessories.

Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A mounting panel for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure, the mounting panel comprising: a plurality of speaker plates; at least one speaker plate having a speaker opening; said speaker plates are combined and secured together to form the structure of the mounting panel; said speaker plates are secured together at their inside seams; when speaker plates are combined they form a tapered shaped with an tapered exterior shape and a tapered interior space where accessories can be mounted; a bottom outlet plate is secured to the narrow end of the combined speaker plates; a flange for mounting to a ceiling is created at the wide end of the combined speaker plates; a plurality of speaker mounts located on the interior side of the combined speaker plates; a projector mount located on the bottom outlet plate; and a power rough in provision.
 2. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the speaker plates are pie shaped.
 3. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the speaker plates are square shaped.
 4. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the speaker plates are rectangular shaped.
 5. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom outlet plate is flat.
 6. The mounting panel of claim 2 comprising: three pie shaped speaker plates; at least one speaker plate having a speaker opening; said speaker plates are combined and secured together to form the structure of the mounting panel; said speaker plates are secured together at their inside seams; when the three pie shaped speaker plates are combined they form a tapered shaped with an tapered exterior shape and a tapered interior space where accessories can be mounted; a bottom outlet plate is secured to the narrow end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates; a flange for mounting to a ceiling is created at the wide end of the combined three pie shaped speaker plates; a plurality of speaker mounts; a projector mount; and a power rough in provision.
 7. The mounting panel of claim 2 comprising: four pie shaped speaker plates; at least one speaker plate having a speaker opening; said speaker plates are combined and secured together to form the structure of the mounting panel; said speaker plates are secured together at their inside seams; when the four pie shaped speaker plates are combined they form a tapered shaped with an tapered exterior shape and a tapered interior space where accessories can be mounted; a bottom outlet plate is secured to the narrow end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates; a flange for mounting to a ceiling is created at the wide end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates; a plurality of speaker mounts; a projector mount; and a power rough in provision.
 8. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein one or more speaker plates include a speaker opening.
 9. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein each speaker plate consists of a speaker opening.
 11. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the speaker openings are located in the corners where the speaker plates are combined; and one or more speakers are located in the corners where the speaker plates are combined.
 11. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom outlet plate has at least one opening.
 12. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom outlet plate has a plurality of openings.
 13. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein accessories are mounted to the flat bottom outlet plate.
 14. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the flange for mounting to a ceiling created at the wide end of the combined speaker plates is dimensionally correct for mounting to a standard grid ceiling.
 15. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the flange for mounting to a ceiling created at the wide end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates is dimensionally correct for mounting to a standard 15/16 inch grid system.
 16. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the combined speaker plates includes a bracing bracket in one or more interior corners for additional strength.
 17. The mounting panel of claim 1 further comprising a lid that is attachable to the wide end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates to provide complete encasement.
 18. The mounting panel of claim 17 wherein the lid that is attachable to the wide end of the combined speaker plates to provide complete encasement includes one or more openings.
 19. The mounting panel of claim 1 wherein the flat bottom outlet plate includes one circular opening; and a coupler.
 19. The mounting panel of claim 14 further comprising a lid that is attachable to the wide end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates to provide complete encasement and is mounted to a standard grid ceiling.
 20. The mounting panel of claim 9 wherein the lid that is attachable to the wide end of the combined four pie shaped speaker plates to provide complete encasement includes one or more openings. 